The South African Council of Churches held its triennial National Conference at the Liban Conference Centre, Woodmead, Johannesburg, from 14 to 17 August 2001.

At the conclusion of the Conference, delegates representing 25 denominations, 9 provincial councils, and a number of church-related organisations issued the following message:

WITH CHRIST IN AFRICA TODAY

The Second Tri-Annual conference of the SACC met in Johannesburg in August 2001 under the theme "With Christ in Africa today." Conference considered what this meant and what challenges it presented to the churches in their mission in Africa.

Conference noted that the present suffering caused by poverty, racism, injustice and HIV/Aids challenges the Church to be present as Christ is present and active in these situations. The Church affirms its identity as bearers of the Cross of Christ and as a witness to His Resurrection.

In facing these struggles and sufferings Conference confirms the sign of Christ with us as the One who can bring hope even in hopeless situations.

OUR GLADNESS

Thus the Church is poised for a major thrust to engage and overcome the challenges facing us.

As believers we reaffirm our joy for the great things the Lord has done for us. The richness of our collective experience as a nation, drawing from the memories of the past and the tensions of the present, give us a potent message of hope for our nation and for the rest of the people of God on this Continent and in other lands.

GOD'S NEW THING

We draw inspiration from the biblical metaphor of the return from exile as we have studied it with reference to the Old and New Testament. This metaphor is rooted in the idea that God is about to do a new thing among us (Isaiah 43:19) and as Jesus exhorts in Revelation 21:5-6 " See I am making all things new. ... Write this for these words are trustworthy and true It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End."

Therefore we appeal to God to restore our fortunes and pledge ourselves to fulfil our task by sowing in tears, fully confident that will we will reap in joy. (Psalm 126)

STRUGGLING TO HOPE

We are aware of the alienation between the new elite and those still trapped in poverty and deprivation, the growing gap between rich and poor, instances of ethnic cleansing and the tensions between Black and White. We are aware that the expectations of the majority of our people have yet to be realised.

It is not a time for the Church to gaze at Heaven, waiting for a second miracle, but rather the time for the Church to put its hope into action. The hope that has been received from God is not otherworldly but is a world transforming power.

With this hope the Church will confront the scourge of HIV/AIDS, overcome poverty, transcend racism and build peace.

SIGN OF HOPE

The Church is called to be the sign of hope in Africa. This hope inspires us to confront the impossibilities and accept the challenges and resist despair.

This hope inspires us to bring Good News to the poor, healing to the sick, (Luke 4:17-19) comfort to the widow and orphan (James 1:27) and break the chains of injustice (Isaiah 58:6).

We commit to engage with all other role players in our society, ready to give an account of the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).

Our prayer for Africa is captured in the words of Romans 15:13: "May the God of Hope fill you with joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."